Why don’t Amish serve in the military?

Amish refuse to fight in wars, serve on police forces, or sue in a court of law

One of the founding beliefs of Anabaptism and one which defines the Amish is their adherence to the doctrine of non-resistance. This belief influences the Amish approach not only to the military but to politics, law enforcement, and litigation. The Amish belief in non-resistance has deep roots. Living these convictions in a world which often resorts to violence has not always been easy.

Pacifist or non-resistant?

If asked to describe their beliefs regarding use of force, Amish would likely choose the term “non-resistant” from among a number of synonyms. “Pacifist”, while it may accurately describe a segment of Amish belief, fails to take in the other forms of non-resistance that Amish condone.

These include refusal to sue in a court of law, or to use coercive force as a member of government (positions which prevent Amish from suing or holding political office). “Pacifism” implies a particular set of attitudes, primarily regarding war. Amish abstain from the use of force in all situations.

Roots of non-resistance

The Amish belief in non-resistance is rooted in Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. Jesus instructs his disciples to “resist not evil, but whoever shall smite thee on they right cheek, turn to him the other also” (Matthew 5:39). Amish take this admonition quite seriously, and see the violent approach to solving problems as un-Christian.

Amish feel that true Christians should truly turn the other cheek, and take historical inspiration from the actions of their forefathers. One story recounted frequently among Amish is that of Dirk Willems, an early Anabaptist persecuted for his beliefs.

Anabaptist martyr Dirk Willems rescues his pursuer

Fleeing from authorities, Willems crossed a frozen pond, only to have his pursuer crash through to the ice. Rather than leave his enemy to a certain death and claim his own freedom, he returned to help him onto dry land. Willems was subsequently executed.

Jacob Hochstetler is another Amishman who, during the French and Indian War, offered an example that resonates today with his many descendants. Facing an attack by Native Americans, Hochstetler forbade his boys to fire back in defense. Jacob and two sons were subsequently captured, and his wife, son, and daughter scalped.

Hochstetler chose not to retaliate in the spirit of non-resistance, as he belived it wrong to take human life. As a result Hochstetler lost his loved ones and his freedom. While modern Americans might find it hard to understand Hochstetler’s decision, Amish today take inspiration in the early Amishman’s example, seeing it as how Christ himself would have acted.

Two Kingdoms doctrine

The Amish non-resistant approach is tied up with Christian “Two Kingdoms” doctrine. Amish follow a very strict interpretation of “two kingdoms” doctrine.

Two Kingdoms doctrine is the belief, held by numerous Christians, that there is a spiritual kingdom with its own set of rules, and a worldly one. The worldly kingdom and its authorities is seen to be instigated by God. Amish respect and follow the rules of the worldly kingdom, so long as they don’t interfere with God’s dictates.

Mandatory military service or using force as a police officer, or indirectly as a government official or agent of the state, is in the Amish view un-Christian and in violation of the rules of the spiritual kingdom.

At the same time, Amish do not condemn police officers or military. They recognize that they are fortunate to live in a country which allows them to practice their religion without persecution by internal or external enemies. Amish certainly appreciated the response of law enforcement after the Nickel Mines school shooting which took the lives of five Amish schoolgirls.

Amish pray that there is a place in heaven for agents that use force as well. For that matter, Amish would never presume to know how God will judge His people.

History of Amish non-resistance

Historically, Amish have been persecuted for their non-resistance beliefs. Outsiders have seen the Amish response as suspect or hypocritical. Amish issues with military service date back to the Revolutionary War.

At certain times throughout history, Amish have even paid others to stand in for them, or have paid commutation fees to avoid service, a practice that led one historian to call the Amish Civil War experience “not one of their finest hours” (“Military Service and Conscription”, Keim).

Michael Hofer was one of two Hutterite brothers killed in a military prison

Amish were persecuted to varying degrees in World Wars I and II, as were members of other non-resistant religious groups, such as Hutterites. The Amish, as a German-speaking minority who refused to take part in battle against an aggressor Germany, were viewed as particularly suspect and even treasonous. This resulted in vandalism as well as forced service in some cases.

In one particular case, two young Hutterite brothers died in a military prison. Amish experienced similar trials in some cases.

Some alternative service programs had been set up for Amish and other Conscientious Objectors (COs), but Amish consideredthese less than ideal. These alternative service plans typically had Amish youth working in worldly environments such as urban hospitals.

Amish youth often went away to such service only to return with wives from different faiths, or opting out of Amish baptism. Not wanting to compromise beliefs or endure persecution, Amish sought an alternative way to fulfill their civic requirements.

Alternative service for Amish during war

The Amish Steering Committee was a body which was formed in 1967 in response to concerns over draft policies and the alternative service arrangement during the Vietnam War. The Steering Committee successfully lobbied for changes in Amish youth hospital service, facilitating an alternative, more favorable plan that had Amish working on farms in Amish environments to fulfill Alternative Service requirements.

A plaque commemorating the Northkill Amish settlement and the attack on Jacob Hochstetler's family

Alternative service was much more favorable in Amish eyes to military conscription, though presented its own issues, especially when youth were placed in worldly environments such as city hospitals in order to fulfill alternative service duties. The widely-read present-day Amish publication Young Companion was started at this time, under the name Ambassador of Peace, as a way of lending support to Old Order youth in alternative service.

Amish hypocrites?

Some disagree with the Amish approach to military service, seeing them as freeloading on the sacrifices of others. When viewed against the Amish interpretation of Two Kingdoms doctrine, one may also wonder how Amish feel about the law enforcement and military who utilize violent means in order to keep them safe.

Amish do not outwardly condemn these individuals, and in fact rely on and appreciate the protection given to them by law enforcement, for example.

Amish beliefs in non-resistance run deep, with a long history and strong spiritual roots. Amish non-resistance is manifested not only in times of war, but also in the sphere of everyday life, influencing Amish political participation, openness to using litigation, and interaction with law enforcement.

For further information, see:

“The Amish View of the State”, Paton Yoder;

“Military Service and Conscription”, Albert N. Keim;

“The National Amish Steering Committe”, Marc A. Olshan; found in The Amish and the State, eds. Donald B. Kraybill and Marc A. Olshan

Mennonites, Amish, and the American Civil War, James O. Lehman, Steven M. Nolt

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I respect the way Amish believe. But don’t understand why, like you said,”They recognize that they are fortunate to live in a country which allows them to practice their religion without persecution…” So why won’t they celebrate the national holidays such as Memorial Day with the rest of the country? Seems pretty hypocritical when they don’t, especially if they are truly thankful to have the freedoms that they have.

I do not agree with anyone that will not serve this country in the military, for whatever reason if physicaly able. The only reason this country has the freedoms we all enjoy is because of our military preventing hostile countries from coming in and killing us all. I consider religion to be seperate from state. The Amish are freedom parasites that dont even show thier respect for the Americans that died fighting for the life style they have. I do mean lifestyle not religion. If you are a consensus objector of fighting off evil aggressors to our country than move on out. I also believe our government also has the obligation to do what it is tasked by the people for the people. That is to only declare war when it is a direct threat to our 50 united states and territories. If our government goes outside of that being the worlds police than I believe we all have the right to consensusly object, but noy for religious reasons. My family has ties all the way to the revolutionary war, and has fought in every war since. I am 20 year retierd Army war verteran as well. I belive in freedom of religion, but I also belive in seperation of religion and state. Religion being your own personal issue, state being United in freedom a way of life our military protects.

Jim; I also have served in the military 16 years 9months, upon which I chose to leave after I finally had endured enough from the government and the military “order” of business, Since I have continued my education not only in the classroom to the extent of completing my Doctorate also in the worldly education arena. I have adapted to and accepted the Anabaptist way of life and have chosen to live according to the Amish way f life to the extent that I may while serving a Pastorate within the Methodist structure, my children also by their choosing have adopted this way of life. I feel it would do yourself a true service to read and come to know the Amish prior to passing judgment on them for their beliefs. Did you know they DO NOT accept any Social Security, Food Stamps or any type of social governmental assistance in regards to health care? Did you know they DO NOT place their parents in nursing homes? they take care of them up to the day they leave this earth and return to the Lord. I have come to realize that the United States Government is not exactly the group you want to turn to if you wish to hear the “whole truth” about anything. Yes I too have family that dates back through the years of conflict, police actions and wars on this earth but does that make it right for us to push our beliefs on others? NO. I love my brothers and Sisters in this country but I draw the line when it comes to my children ever participating in Government sponsored essays as they attempt to do in the schools here or any military service of any type, I feel I served enough with my time. So please do not call the Amish free loaders, they are not. Learn about them and you might just find that they are really forgiving, loving, kind people.

Jim. As an active duty officer I must say that I don’t agree with your position. It is the duty of those who serve in the military to protect the constitution of the United States. The Amish do not choose not to fight, it is a fundamental belief in non resistance that they do not fight. This has been a consistent belief that has remained unchanged in their faith as far back as its creation. We are not in a position to judge why they do not fight. Our only position is to protect them from all enemies, foreign and domestic; and to uphold the constitution of the United States. All other positions are irrelevant. Do not forget, it is our duty as soldiers above all things, to prevent war from reaching any citizen living in this country; by force and with our lives if necessary.

I say let’s do some reality checks: Amish mafia tv show is pretty darn violent, and aggressive. How about this, is there any Amish in any third world country that is not a free people? There may well be, but I have never heard of any. My posting reply to Pastor Jim is not visible any more for whatever reason. But Amish are not freeloaders. They work very hard for themselves. They are however very disrespectful, and live here only because Americans have died, prisoners of war, disabled, lost marriages, and generally suffered to keep this freedom we all enjoy. Amish don’t respect that. They don’t honor verterans day, Memorial Day or our flag of freedom. I say let’s have some Amish move to North Korea, China, Samalia, anywhere in Africa, Russia, etc ….. Let them setup thier communities there, and pull the religion life style of selfserviance there. They live here only because of others who have sacrificed deeply for the freedom they enjoy. The least they could do is honor that fact, or better yet join in the responsibility to protect freedom. If the United States was ever invaded like Poland was by Germany, and soldiers were dieing all around the Amish. While the Amish refuse to help fight off the invaders. The invaders then win, I sure hate it for those poor freedom loving Amish that love thier religion. Oh no they can’t practice that any more – their freedom is gone, To bad they didn’t lift a finger to help protect that beloved freedom they once had. Very well could have made a difference. At least it would show they respect thier own freedom loving farm land.

How about saying “I am active duty” and leave it at that. This is a public civilian format. Unless regulations have changed rank structure is not authorized in this forum.

You are correct on all counts of what you said. Your religion is your religion, not mine, not your neighbor, and not the governments. It is your personal right in accordance with our constitution to choose your religion and practice it in your way. You can even choose to not have a religion, that is the glory of our constitution. But, I do not believe that anyone who lives in the United States has the right to claim that he or she will not join in the responsibility to maintain the freedom they enjoy to practice that freedom. Our system has allowed people to claim objection to serving due to their personal religion. I have the right to NOT agree with that. I believe in separate church and state. The state needs all who are able and of age to participate in maintaining the freedom for all who are in that state (United States). Those that are in that state get to practice or choose not to practice a religion of their own. The state cannot force a religion on a person. I believe a personal religion should not be forced on the state. That’s me.

I may be a little sympathetic to the Amish, if today “Memorial Day” Amish would take a moment and try to remember the millions of people who DIED, were tortured, maimed, wounded, POW, suffered hunger, weather, smells of death, missed children’s births, lost wives or husbands due to being separated years at a time, deployed & TDY, missing children growing up, PCS every two to three years, all personal sacrifices the Amish could not comprehend in the ongoing maintenance of freedom. Amish don’t need to thank a service member. Just remember the personal cost to the state for freedom. Amish freedom of personal religion. Amish don’t. More than anyone Amish should!

Sir, the constitution provides the right to burn the flag. We have served to protect that right to burn, spit, even crap on the flag. I damn sure do not agree with that. I have very right to put that I don’t agree with that on this site. Just as I don’t agree with the religion trumping state. Let it go to far and the crusades all over again. How free do you think we would be if this entire USA was Amish? A nano-second?

Folks, wars are bankers wars. People are manipulated into killing for patriotism and the profit margins of the incredibly wealthy and powerful. Dig through hidden history. Find out the truth. Don’t just go along. Wake up.